Roslyn Fairley is a creature of habit but the Warrigal Figtree resident is open to change if it means she can save money on her energy bills.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
That’s why she jumped at the chance to be part of the Energy+Illawarra (E+I) research project.
‘’Electricity is the biggest bill I pay and I thought that having solar system would be useful. When I joined the program I didn’t expect much but was happy to be part of the research project,’’ Mrs Fairley said.
After a detailed building assessment, Mrs Fairley’s home received a solar hot water system and LED lighting upgrade. On Tuesday she had an in-home energy display installed.
RDA Illawarra project manager Deborah Petkovic said this in-home energy display will allow Mrs Fairley to see her energy consumption in real time and influence energy efficient behaviour.
‘’That’s really important,’’ Mrs Petkovic said.
‘’One thing that is being observed quite clearly is that if people own the technology that’s being introduced in their homes and they understand it then they are going to make changes to their behaviour. They are actually going to make a difference to their energy efficiency.’’
E+I is a three-year, $2.3 million project funded by the Federal Department of Industry, Innovation and Science and contributions from consortium members led by RDA Illawarra.
Mrs Petkovic said the aim is to trial a variety of ways to influence people’s behaviour and to improve their energy efficiency at home but without affecting their thermal comfort.
‘’So, that is making sure they are keeping cool in summer and keeping warm in winter but not increasing their costs of energy usage,’’ she said.
Warrigal environmental sustainability officer Laura Pritchard said more than 30 Warrigal residents from six villages across the Illawarra and Southern Highlands have had their homes retrofitted with a solar hot water system, door seals, ceiling fans and an in-home display which will measure power use as it occurs.
Mrs Petkovic added that the program covers the monitoring and educating of over 800 residents and energy efficiency installations in 200 homes across the Illawarra, Shoalhaven and Wingecarribee. ‘’The results of this Australia-wide trial project will hopefully come out this June,’’ she said.